Heidi Jenkinson who runs Heidi’s Sewing Room in North Street has joined forces with the Meadow Farm Wool Project which raises funds for two charities from the production and sale of locally-sourced wool. Heidi has just received her first consignment of knitting wool from Jacob sheep farmed by Annie Musgrove at Meadow Farm, Greenham near Wellington.

The Meadow Farm Wool Project processes fleeces from the farm’s Jacob sheep into knitting wool spun by a small traditional Yorkshire mill. A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of wool at Heidi’s will go back to the Meadow Farm Project to support the Teenage Cancer Trust and the brain injury charity, Headway.

The project is run by Annie Musgrove and Jane Allberry as a sustainable fund-raising initiative producing positive outcomes for both customers and the charities. The wool from the smallholding’s Jacob sheep was “going to waste” until keen knitter Jane persuaded Annie to process the fleeces and raise money for these two charities which have supported their youngest sons.

The wool can be bought in a range of natural colours from either Heidi’s or from mfwoolproject.co.uk/buy-wool. Alternatively, supporters of the project can rent a sheep for a year. When the fleeces are spun renters receive 500g of wool, enough to knit a jumper or lots of socks. Last year’s range of wool was so popular that the project sold out and Annie and Jane were able to send their first cheques for £300 to the charities.

Annie said, “We’re delighted that there has been such a positive interest in the project and we’re now able to offer the wool locally in Heidi’s Sewing Room as well as through our website. There’s a huge interest from people wanting to trace their wool from field to jumper.”

Knitters can find out more about the project on www.mfwoolproject.co.uk

Heidi took over the running of the shop from her mother, Beryl Griffiths, two years ago. Beryl first opened the shop selling sewing and knitting materials in 1980.